JOIN USWith 7cm of rainfall reported on Sunday, downpours in the City seem to have gained a bit of their familiar solidity.
If the Meteorological Department were to be trusted, thunderstorm activity will gain momentum due to the westerly winds, making rains more intense over South India in the coming days.
“The westerly winds provide good moisture to atmosphere which is why there are rains,” said director, Meteorological Department, A Muthuchami.
“If the winds move northwards, the monsoon will move along, taking heavy rains across Karnataka,” he explained.
However, the Meteorological Department predicts it would take at least three to four days for monsoon to truly set in and lash the State with thunderstorm. The forecast that temperatures may drop in the next few days will certainly come as a big relief to the city residents.
The department had reported slow progression earlier in the week and predicted rainfall to increase in the coming days, with south Karnataka and the coastal region already receiving rainfall.
In the wake of the unfolding monsoon, North Karnataka is also expected to receive rainfall in the next few days.
Houses flooded
Heavy rains on Sunday led to flooding of houses in Kavalbyrasandra, Modi Road, Chamarajpet and Okalipura. Along J C Road, storm-water drains overflowed onto the streets leading to inundation.
A huge tree fell on Bescom wires and on a car parked near the Haiko Honda showroom in Domlur. Edwin, a resident of Domlur said that the entire area was blocked as the tree fell on the Bescom wires.
Meanwhile, weather scientists tracking the monsoons in New Delhi have predicted the Southwest Monsoon to gather pace by Tuesday.
Despite starting days early, the monsoon was stopped in its tracks by cyclone Aila, is expected to advance throughout peninsula India.
Scientists said the secondary monsoon current is expected to trigger the system, which was substantially weakened after its onset in Kerala on May 23.
Monsoon had reached Kerala nine days ahead of the normal onset date of June 1 but a low pressure area off Tamil Nadu which developed into the devastating cyclone Aila two days later, sucked away moisture from the region and weakened the weather system.
On May 25, when Aila wreaked havoc on Orissa and West Bengal, the monsoon had covered the entire Kerala and Tamil Nadu and advanced into southern parts of coastal Karnataka, entire north eastern states, parts of coastal Orissa and most parts of West Bengal and Sikkim.
However, the secondary current may not be as intense as the original pulse but it may be strong enough to yield rain over a wide area in the peninsular region, scientists said.
But a positive side to the revival would be that monsoon may begin advancing from southern parts of coastal Karnataka, where it has been stalled.
Another advantage of the moderate monsoon current would be that there would be little disruption in rainfall and the annual rains may reach Mumbai by June 7, about three days ahead of the normal onset date.
Cyclone Aila had brought early monsoon rains to parts of Orissa, West Bengal and the entire northeast. India Meteorological Department has forecast subdued monsoon activity outside the Bay islands.
An analysis of weather prediction models suggest that scattered rain or thundershower activity is likely over the Indo-Gangetic plains during the next couple of days and decrease thereafter.